Umbrella



P. F. KING.

UMBRELLA. I APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, I919- Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

UNITED STATES PAJ'ENT OFFICE.

rERcIvAI. FAULKNER KING, or VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA,

UMBRELLA.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Pnnorvl-in FAULKNER KING, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of the city of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in umbrellas, and the object of my invention is Y to provide an umbrella capable of being collapsed so as to be carried in the pocket of the user and which is simple and of great convenience and utility.

I attain this object by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a view showing the umbrella frame opened out.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the opened-out ribs.

Fig. 3 is a view of the ribs closed one on the other.

Fig. 4 is a view of the collapsed frame and handle prior to folding.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a rib.

Fig. 6 is a View showing method of fold ing ribs.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of a rib showing the link connection.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View of the handle.

Fig. 9 is a view of the locking nut.

Similar figures of reference indicate similarparts throughout the several views.

1 and 2 indicate upper and lower plates connected together by a central pin 3 the lower end of which projects below the lower plate 2. The plates 1 and 2 are curved as shown and arranged reversely to each other so that their outer edges are brought in close proximity to one another, the space between these edges being just sufiicient to allow the umbrella ribs, indicated by the numeral 4, to pass through. These ribs which are formed of thin flat flexible material taper toward their outer ends and are formed in three sections hingedly connected together, their ends being eyed, as at 5, so that they may be rotatably mounted one above the other on the pin 3, from which it will be seen that the ribs when extended may be swung circumferentially around the pin 3 to their respective stations, as indicated in Fig. 2, when the umbrella is opened, as in opening a fan, or to lie one against the other pre- Specification of Letters Patent. Pat t d A 10 1920. Application filed April 28,

1919. Serial No. 293,146.

paratory to collapsing the umbrella, as in a closed fan, as shown in Fig. 3, and in order to allow the ribs'to be folded snugly together those that require it are bent, as shown at 6 In Figs. 2 and 3. 7

As stated, the ribs 4 are formed in three sections hingedly connected together, as at 7, the hinges being arranged for the upward folding of the sections and consisting of short plates 8 connecting the ends of the sections together, the connection being made by means of an extension 9 on the end of each plate which passes through a slot 10 in the respective sections, the end of the extension 9 being enlarged to prevent withdrawal from the slot. The ends of the adjacent sections are extended a short distance under the hinge plate 8 and the slots are of such length as to permit movement of the sections as the ribs curve when opening so that their ends may engage, when the umbrella is fully opened out, in hook-shaped portions 11 formed on the underside of each plate 8 and thus lock the ribs against inadvertent upward folding such as might be caused by a strong wind. Although not absolutely necessary it is preferable to positively guide the ends of the sections into the: portions 11 and therefore the hinge plates are connected by links 12, the length and position of which is such that when the ribs are straight they, the links, assume a vertical position to raise the plate but when the ribs are curving they lower to a horizontal position and insure the positioning of the section ends in the hookshaped portions as the sections and plates move toward the center of the umbrella. The connection of the links to both the plates and the sections is such as not to interfere with the folding of the ribs when collapsing the umbrella.

The umbrella cover 13 is of the usual material and pattern, being mounted at the center on the pin 3, whichprojects sufficiently for thepurpose, and secured along its outer edge to the ends of the ribs by links 14. From the center, however, for one half of its diameter the cover is split so that one divided end is secured to an extra rib 15 mounted above the upper plate 1, its other divided end being secured to that one of the ribs 4 which is the last to reach its sta-.

tion when the ribs are beingopened out, this rib being indicated specifically by the numeral 16 in Fig. 2 and being provided with a short portion 17 alsomounted above the plate 1 and extending adjacent the first or innermost hinge of-the rib, from which it will be seen, referring to Fig. 2 and the peculiar construction of the ribs 15 and 16, that when the umbrella is opened out the divided end of the cover secured to rib 15 will overlap the divided end secured to the rib 16, the outer ends of these ribs being detachably locked by an I suitable means. The eyed ends of ribs 15 and 16 may be held in place above the upper plate 1 by any suitable means, such as a plate 18 secured to pin 3, sufficient space being allowed between plates 1 and 18 to permit rotation of the ribs, and plate 18 may have an eye 19, by means of which the umbrella may be carried or hung on a hoolrwhen desired. The cover, near the point where it is split, is suitably secured to the upper plate 1 so as to ,hold it in place when operating the un1 brella.

The handle of the umbrella, indicated by the numeral 20, is formed of a number of sections 21 telescopic one within the other, and the upper section is swingably con-- nected to the lower end of the pin being beveled on one side, as indicated in Fig. 9, and is adapted to be held rigid against swingingmovement by means of a nut 22 also having a beveled side adapted to regi ter with the beveled side of the upper section 21 or to be positioned opposite thereto by the rotation of the nut.

The sections 21 are rigidly locked when extended by means of spring tongues 23 projecting through the wall of each section, the tongues of one section being adapted to engage suitable'openings 24L in the wall of the adjacent lower section, and these respcc tive tongues are suitably connected to a pull cord 25 which extends beyond the lower end of the handle so that a pull on the cord will disengage the tongues 23 out of the openings 24 and permit telescoping of the handle to its minimum length, in which position all the upper sections are contained within the lower. a

The manner in which the umbrella is used may be described briefly as follows: When it is desired to fold it from the open posi tion, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, the ribs 15 and 16 are disengaged from one another and all the ribs are then swung around until. they lie edgewise one against the other, as shown in Fig. 3, the cover 14: then of course slackening so that the ribs straighten out, thus disengaging the ends of the sections from'the portions 11. The outermost and innermost sections of the ribs may now be folded first upwardly,

allowing the cover to be stowed in between them tolie on the middle sections when the outermost and innermost sections may then be folded inwardly one on top of the other after the manner indicated in. Figs. 4 and 6, so that a small boX is formed in which the cover is contained. A pull on the cord 25 will disengage the tongues 23, allowing the handle to be collapsed, after which, by giving the nut 22 a half turn, so that the beveled side of the nut registers with that of the upper section 21, the handle may be swung to lie alongside the collapsed ribs, when the whole umbrella is ready for placing in the pocket.

'VVhat I claim as my invention is 1. In an umbrella, a pole, a cover, and a frame for the cover connected to the pole including a plurality of sectional ribs lying adjacent to one another when closed and foldable to form a substantially box-shaped structure in which the cover is contained, said ribs being adapted when unfolded to be spread in a circumferential direct-ion to equidistant stations.

2. In an umbrella, a. pole, a cover and a frame for the cover connected to the pole including a plurality of sectional ribs lying adjacent to one another when closed and foldable to form a substantially box-like structure in which the cover is contained, said ribs being capable, when unfolded, of spreading movement in a circumferential direction to equidistant stations and adapt ed to be lowered by the tightening of the cover during such spreading movement, and means for preventing inadvertent upward folding. of the bowed ribs.

3. In an umbrella, a pole, an upper convex and a lower concave plate secured to said pole adjacent its upper end, a plurality of ribs eyed at their inner ends connected by said eyes to the pole between the plates and extending freely between the edges of the plates, said ribs being in sections adapted for limited inward movement when bowing upon .opening the umbrella and .capable of being arranged to lie adjacent to one another or spread ina circumferential di-' rection to equidistant stations, said sections being capable when the ribs are nested of being folded one on the other to form a substantially box-shaped structure.

a. In an umbrella, a pole, an upper convex and a lower concave plate secured to said pole adjacent its upper end, a plurality of ribs eyed at their inner ends connected by said eyes to the pole between the plates and extending freely between the edges of the said plates, an additional rib being connected to the pole above the convex plate, said ribs being in sections adapted for limited inward movement when bowing upon opening the umbrella and capable of being arranged to lie adjacent to one another or spread in opposite circumferential directions .to equidistant stations and so that the two end ribs pass each other, and a cover secured at 1ts center to theconvex plate and divided radially on one slde of 113906111361 having its divided ends secured respectively to the said end ribs, the peripheral edge of said cover being secured to the tips of all the ribs.

5. In an umbrella, a pole, an upper convex and a lower concave plate secured to said pole adjacent its upper end, a plurality of swinging ribs adapted to be arranged one alongside the other or spread in opposite circumferential directions so that the two end meeting sectional ribs pass each other, all of said ribs except one end rib passing through between the edges of the plates to be connected by eyes formed on their inner ends to the pole, the said end rib being connected to the pole above the convex plate and the other end rib being provided with a secondary portion also connected to the pole above the convex plate, all of said ribs being in sections hingedly connected together, and said sections being capable of folding one on the other, and a cover secured at its center to the upper plate and divided radially on one side of its center having its divided ends secured respectively to the said end ribs, the peripheral edge of said cover being secured to the tips of all the ribs.

6. In an umbrella, a pole comprised of sections telescopic one within the other, the upper section being swingably connected to the adjacent lower one, means for locking said upper section against swinging movement, and ribs connected to the said upper section arranged to lie adjacent to one another when closed and adapted to fold in sections so that a substantially box-shaped structure is formed, said ribs being adapted when unfolded to be spread in a circumferential direction.

7. In an umbrella, a cover, a pole comprised of sections telescopic one within the other, the upper section being swingably connected to the adjacent lower one, means for locking said upper section against swinging movement, and sectional ribs for the cover swingingly connected to the said upper section lying adjacent to one another when closed and adapted to fold in sections so that a substantially box-shaped structure is formed, said ribs being adapted when unfolded to be spread in a circumferential direction and to be automatically bowed by the tightening of the cover.

8. In an umbrella, a cover, a hollow pole comprised of sections telescopic one within the other, and having the upper section swingably connected to the adjacent lower one, each section being provided with spring tongues adapted to removably engage apertures in the walls of the adjacent lower section when the pole is extended, a pull cord secured to said tongues extending within the pole and depending therefrom whereby a pull on the cord frees the tongues from the apertures to permit collapse of the pole, means for locking said upper section against swinging movement, said means being operable to permit such movement, and sectional ribs for the cover pivotally connected to the said upper section and adapted to lie adjacent to one another when closed and to fold in sections so that a substantially boxshaped structure is formed, said ribs being adapted when unfolded to be spread in a circumferential direction and to be bowed by the tightening of the cover.

9. In an umbrella, a cover, a pole comprised of sections telescopic one within the other, the upper section being swingably connected to the adjacent lower one, means for locking said upper section against swinging movement, said means being operative 'to permit such movement, means for locking said sections one to the other when the pole is extended, means for unlocking said locking means, sectional ribs for the cover pivotally connected to the said upper section adapted to lie adjacent to one another when closed and tofold into substantially boxlike formation or when unfolded to be spread in a circumferential direction and to be bowed by the tightening of the cover, the sections of eachrib being adapted to be detachably locked one with the other by the bowing of the rib.

10. In an umbrella, a pole comprised of sections telescopic one within the other, the upper section being swingably connected to the adjacent lower one the upper end of which is beveled on one side, an upper convex and a lower concave plate secured to the said upper section with the said concave plate resting on the point of the said beveled end, a nut rotatably mounted on the said lower section having a beveled face capable of being brought to register with the said beveled end when the nut is rotated or to bear at its point on the said lower concave plate, and a plurality of sectional ribs pivotally connected to the said upper section and adapted to lie adjacent to one another or spread in opposite circumferential directions, said ribs passing through betweenthe edges of the said plates.

11. In an umbrella, a pole, and sectional ribs pivotally connected to the pole adapted to be spread in a circumferential direction when opening the umbrella.

Dated at Vancouver, 13. C., this 9th day of April, 1919.

PERCIVAL FAULKNER KING. 

